Asparagus, ‘Jersey Giant’

Asparagus is extremely nutritious and has many health benefits! The ‘Jersey Giant’ variety is an all male hybrid that is highly productive and very vigorous. (NJ56 x JN22-8) Patented. Best for high yield, fine flavor and the largest succulent spears. Resists fusarium wilt, crown rot and rust. Twice the yield of old-fashioned kinds. This is one of the most popular varieties grown by home gardeners and for commercial planting. This variety is very adaptable and gives excellent yields. It has high disease tolerance. The purple bracted spears are large and a very attractive green. ‘Jersey Giant’ is the most winter hardy of all the Jersey Hybrids and it is widely adapted to temperate and cool climates. It produces medium to large (7-9 inch), green spears with purple bracts. ‘Jersey Giant’ prefers well worked organic soils. Grows well throughout the Midwest.

Asparagus get top dollar at the supermarket, but commercially grown spears never measure up to the delicate sweet flavor of homegrown. Asparagus is a hardy perennial. Asparagus is a highly productive vegetable. Grown for the stems or spears, a well tended planting yields 8 to 10 pounds or more per 100 square feet of bed or 24 to 30 pounds per 100 feet of row. For most home gardeners, one row is adequate. An asparagus planting lasts 15 to 25 years without replanting if it is well cared for and the climate is suitable. It does not do well if summers are extremely hot and long and winters are mild.

Availability

Plant Details +

Botanical

Asparagus officinalis

Size

2 Yr

Height

6-18"

Spacing

12-24"

Hardiness

Zones 2-9

Exposure

Full sun

Harvest

Spring

General Information +

General Characteristics: Asparagus is a hardy perennial. It is the only common vegetable that grows wild along roadsides and railroad tracks over a large part of the country. Although establishing a good asparagus bed requires considerable work, your efforts will be rewarded. A well-planned bed can last from 15 to 25 years. For this reason, asparagus should be planted at the side or end of the garden, where it will not be disturbed by normal garden cultivation. Asparagus is one of the first vegetables ready to harvest in the spring. Asparagus is native to the Mediterranean and was eaten by the ancient Greeks.

Planting/Care Instructions +

Planting Instructions: Plant in early spring in a sunny location of sandy loam with good drainage. Plant after the ground warms to about 50º F.
1. Dig a trench 6" deep
2. Place the roots in the trench, spreading the roots so they remain flat.
3. Cover with 3" of dirt and once growth begins, fill in the additional 3" of soil.
Do not harvest the first year and harvesting may continue until June 1 the second year. Every season, when cuttings are over, apply a fertilizer to supply nitrogen for good regrowth of the plants. Approximately 10 lbs. per 100 foot of row for fertilizer similar to 10-10-10 (500 lbs. per acre) is sufficient. WATER PLANTS WELL AFTER PLANTING. After harvest, asparagus must be completely dormant before mowing. Mow late winter or early spring.

Pests or Diseases: Asparagus beetles are commonly found in home plantings. If numerous, they may be controlled by a suggested insecticide or by handpicking. Asparagus rust can be a problem in the Midwest. Moisture left on the plant for 10 hours can help to spread the disease. Plant resistant varieties.